In 1980 the border between New Zealand and Australia was there to be crossed and friendships and associations which transcend boundaries were no match for the “ditch” a common expression for the Tasman Sea which separates Australia and New Zealand. Very soon NSP New Zealand products were being sold in Australia and a Brisbane couple, David & Shirley Covacich were our first Australian distributors and leaders in the Australian push for NSP products to be available in Australia.
 

Quickly our first Australian distributors came on board; Vic & June Venn on the 23rd January 1980, Betty Child on the 24th January 1980, Doug & Olwyn Garth on the 21st April 1980, Miriam Newton (now Campbell) on 9th February 1981, Glen and Nichelle Gillard on 28th February 1981 and Don Carter on 28th May 1982.
 

There are many others. The passage of time and passing on from this life makes it difficult to recall them all. Amongst them would be Tracie Acheson, Don & Mavis Annett, Gaele Arnott, Antoinette Balnave, Rosemary Barnes, David & Sharon Bergey, Joy Bondelmonte, Lesley Bowles, Kath Carter, Isabel Child, Hock Choi, Bill & Heather Davison, Nick & Marilyn Di Camillo, Chris & Dot Evans, John & Jill Evans, David Fraser, Brien & Jodie Goninan, Brian & Shirley Grigg, Ted Hall, Jim & Jean Hogbin, Richard & Glenda Judge, Veronika Kimmick, Bill Kirby, Elizabeth MacLaren, Rex & Tony Miller, David & Gwen Morgan, Bernadette Mulholland, Mike & Maddy O’Brian, John & Lesley Pettitt, John & Rickki Reuter, Mary & Herman Pestano, Tim Postneck, Denis & Ruth Stewart, Adrian Taylor, Ron & Denise Thompson, Maurice & Judith Wade, Phil Wade, Edith Ward, Ian & Annette Watts, Sue Westbrook, Alan & Florence Whatson, James & Wendy White, Veda & Parijat Wismer-Turner and Gloria & Peter Wright.

  

To any I may have missed, my sincere apologies, it is unintentional.

         

NSP Australia was established 27th February 1981, our third international subsidiary.  

A staff of three occupied office and warehouse premises in Prospect, an outer western suburb of Sydney. Towards the latter part of 1983, NSP Australia outgrew the Prospect premises and relocated to new premises at Castle Hill, a more prestigious suburb of Sydney.

 

In June 1989, NSP Australia once again moved premises to Marayong, a western suburb of Sydney. In July 1998, NSP Australia moved into larger premises in Norwest Business Park, Baulkham Hills. Norwest Business Park is a fully planned Business Park of International standing with lakes, extensive landscaping, walkways and recreational areas.

 

In the late eighties the Australian Management team observed that the direct sales network was leaning more towards a retail oriented market approach and the introduction of the Therapeutic Goods Act in 1989 saw herbal and nutritional supplements regulated as medicines, requiring they be assessed for quality, safety and efficacy.  This process has lent more credibility to herbs and has ensured Australian consumers have access to high quality products, but has come at a heavy cost to industry and Australian consumers - unlike other countries where herbs are regulated as foods or nutritional supplements.

 

In January, 1993 the Australian operation was purchased by Stephen and Rosely Webster, who between them have 63 years association with the company.

 

In 1999 it became clear that the direct sales distribution system and allocation of resources were out of step with what was happening in the market place and in order to protect the sales base and take a bigger share of what was a rapidly growing market, changes needed to be made. January, 2000 not only saw the new millennium but also a new direction for NSP Australia.  An analysis of the company’s strengths and the opportunities available, determined that if more people were to become aware of the products and services, the company needed to be aligned with a select number of sales channels.  

Today Nature’s Sunshine products are sold in health food stores, selected pharmacies and by health care practitioners who are supplied by authorised Wholesalers in each Australian Capital City and you, Founding Club Members, a group of Independent Distributors whose association with Nature’s Sunshine pre-dates January, 2000.

 

We extend our gratitude to all of those people who have been part of the NSP family during the past 30 years and who have contributed to the Company’s success and longevity. 

Congratulations, this year’s celebration is for you…!!!

 

Fondly Stephen & Rosely (Owners and Directors of Nature's Sunshine Products of Australia)